Syringe or dart type projectile adapter for conventional compressed gas rifle



United States Patent Robert B. Waldeisen Hillsgrove, Pennsylvania 18619 [21] Appl.No. 675,953

[22] Filed Oct. 17, 1967 [45] Patented Aug.25, 1970 [72] Inventor [54] SYRINGE OR DART TYPE PROJECTILE ADAPTER FOR CONVENTIONAL COMPRESSED GAS RIFLE 2,856,716 10/1958 Compton 3,067,730 12/1962 Merz ABSTRACT: An adapter for allowing syringe or dart type projectiles to be tired from a conventional compressed gas rifle having a source of compressed air and trigger operated valve means for selectively delivering the same to the adapter, which adapter consists of a block having a receiver opening and a barrel carried by the block and having its bore opening into the receiver opening. The receiver opening is fluid coupled to the trigger operated valve means and a magazine carrying a plurality of projectiles in separate receiving chambers is insertably positioned within the adapter receiver opening with the projectile receiving chambers being selectively aligned with the barrel prior to firing.

, mga 50 I8 60 44 V 2o mg/mos 38 2 Patented Aug. 25, 1970 FIG. I

FIG. 2

INVENTOR "ROBERT B. WALDEISEN BYZZ ATTORNEYLQ SYRINGE OR DART TYPE PROJECTILE ADAPTER FOR CONVENTIONAL COMPRESSED GAS RIFLE Compressed gas rifles are often used for target shooting since they are quite accurate and since the pellets normally forming the projectiles are inexpensive when compared to power fired projectiles. One type of compressed gas rifle is manufactured by the Crossman Arms Company, Incorporated of Fairport, New York, which is shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,067,730 issuing December 11, 1962 to Rudolph Merz and entitled Gas-Power Gun". In general, the rifle is of the gas operated, pellet firing, bolt action type which includes a reservoir containing one or more carbon dioxide cartridges and a passage that connects the reservoir with the breech end of the gun barrel. A normally closed poppet valve is mounted in the passage and the hammer of the gun is adapted to be released when the trigger is pulled for opening the poppet valve to permit the flow of gas under pressure from the reservoir through the passage and into the barrel of the gun to propel a pellet thereby. The rifle is provided with a breech bolt which is adapted to be operated by a knob for transferring a pellet from a pellet carrying magazine into the barrel in firing position and thereafter the gun is cocked by manually pulling the hammer rearwardly to engage a sear of the trigger.

While rifles of this type are well adapted for target shooting and small game hunting, they are unable, of themselves to fire a syringe or dart type projectile carrying a drug in liquid or solid form for immobilizing game animals, especially of the larger variety or for killing game under lethal dosages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a simplified, low cost adapter which may be readily attached to an existing compressed gas rifle as a replacement of the conventional barrel and projectile receiver. The adapter facilitates the selection of a projectile or dart having the desired drug dosage.

An immobilizer dart for use with the adapter of the present invention forms the subject matter of my copending application Ser. No. 620,506, filed March 3, 1967, entitled Immobilizer Dart. In addition, the adapter of the present invention may readily fire the more complicated and expensive hypodennic needle-type of immobilizer projectile carrying immobilizing drugs in liquid form and which is in general use today. The adapter is substituted for the conventional breech bolt and barrel portion of the conventional gas powered gun and makes use of the source of compressed gas and trigger operated valve means normally carried by the gun for selectively delivering pressurized gas to the adapter. The adapter itself comprises a block including a receiver opening and a barrel carried on the block and having a bore opening into the receiver opening. Fluid passage means are provided within the block at the opposite end of the receiver opening for fluid coupling the receiver opening to the trigger operated valve means carried by the gun proper. A magazine carrying a plurality of transversely spaced projectile receiving chambers is insertably received within the block receiver opening for selective axial alignment between the barrel and one of said projectile receiving chambers. The block is preferably provided with a rectangular receiver opening, and the cartridge is rectangular in configuration with the front end of the same being provided with spaced hemispherical recesses cooperating with spring-biased ball detent means carried by the block for selectively locking the magazine in the barrel and the receiving chamber in axial alignment. The fluid passage between the receiver opening of the block and the trigger operated valve is preferably provided with vent means and a control valve for selectively venting a controlled amount of the pressurized fluid normally passing from the trigger operated valve means directly to the projectile receiving chamber.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a portion of a standard gas operated rifle carrying the adapter of the present invention for allowing the selective firing of one of a plurality of immobilizer projectiles in dart or syringe form.

FIG. 2 is a plan view, partially in section, of the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is the elevational view of the rifle carried adapter of the present invention, partially in section.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a multiple projectile carrying magazine forming a portion of the adapter employed with the rifle of FIGS. 1 through 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The simplified, low cost adapter which replaces the conventional breech bolt and barrel portion of an existing compressed gas rifle for the purpose of allowing selective firing of a plurality of syringe or dart type projectiles carrying immobilizer drugs is indicated generally at 10 and forms a portion of a modified compressed gas rifle 12, such as that shown in US. Pat. No. 3,067,730, previously referred to. The rifle includes a stock 14 which carries an elongated hollow tube 16 as a principal component for carrying the CO cartridge 18 within its bore 20. Tube 16 also carries a poppet valve assembly 22 and a spring-biased hammer assembly 24 which is operatively associated with trigger 25. A pointed, piercing pin 26, forms a part of the poppet valve assembly 22 and is normally springbiased by coil spring 28 to the extreme left-hand position, wherein poppet valve element 30 abuts valve seat 32 to close off axial passage 34 from chamber 36. The chamber 36 is formed by a counterbore 38 within valve block 40. Valve block 40 cooperates with valve block 42, both being carried by the hollow tube 16 and fixedly positioned by means of ring block 44 which is secured longitudinally to tube 16 by means of threaded screw 46. The ring block 44 is bored centrally at 48, through which bore passes an elongated rod 50 which is operatively coupled to the end of the poppet valve 30 opposite that of the piercing pin 26. The rod 50 passes through the axial passage 34 but allows fluid to pass from chamber 36 into vertical passage 52 as the poppet valve assembly moves to the right against the bias of spring 28. At the opposite end of tube 16, the axially movable hammer assembly 24 is spring-biased toward the right but held in position by sear 54 carried by the trigger 25. Compression spring 56 tends to maintain the sear 54 within notch 57 carried by the tube 16, with the end of the sear 54 abutting the face of hammer 58. Upon pulling the trigger 25, which pivots about mounting pin 60, sear 54 moves out of opening 56 causing the projection 62 carried by the hammer assembly 24 to contact the left-hand end of pin 50 unseating the poppet valve 30 and allowing high pressure gas to pass from the carbon dioxide cartridge 18 through chamber 36, and axial passage 34 to the vertical passage 52. Obviously, once the CO cartridge 18 is pierced at its left-hand end, fluid will be maintained at high pressure within chamber 36 and upon successive trigger operations, release of the hammer will cause fluid to pass into the vertical passage 52. As mentioned previously, the hammer is returned against the bias of its compression spring to cocking position by manually moving the hammer assembly 24 to the left until sear 54 reseats (by means not shown). This previously described portion of the compressed gas rifle is conventional and forms no part of the present invention.

The present invention makes use of the selective discharge of high pressure fluid into the vertical passage 52 and employs the same for firing, in a selective manner, syringe or dart like projectiles carried by the adapter 10. The adapter 10 replaces the conventional breechblock and barrel assembly of the unmodified gas rifle which fires a much smaller projectile. In this respect, it is noted that the vertical passage 52 carried by valve block 42 is fixed in position within hollow tube 16 and -is aligned with an aperture or opening 64 formed in the top of the tube 16. In the present invention, the adapter 10 includes as a principal component a rectangular block 66 which may be formed of metal or the like and includes a rectangular receiver opening 68 carried centrally of the block and passes transversely from one side 70 t the other 72. This provides, within the receiver opening, a forward receiver opening face 74 and a rear receiver opening face 76. The forward end of the block 66 is provided with an axial bore 78 which receives barrel 80. Barrel 80 is conventional with the exception that it has a much larger bore 82 than that normally associated with a compressed gas rifle. The barrel 80 is rigidly fixed within block opening or bore 78. At the rear end of block 66, there is provided a vertical bore 84 receiving threaded mounting screw 46, the screw 46 also passing through aligned openings within mounting plate 86 and tube 16. In this respect, the ring block 44 includes a threaded bore 88 for receiving the inner end of the mounting bolt 46. Block 66 may be rigidly coupled to the mounting plate 88 by being welded thereto. It is noted that the mounting plate 86 is also fixed to a stationary block 92 carried within tube 16 at the rear of the hammer assembly 24 by a threaded screw 94. Thus, by means of the thin mounting plate or strip 86, the adapter of the present invention is rigidly coupled to the upper surface of tube 16 forming a part of the modified, but otherwise conventional gas operated rifle.

In order to selectively supply pressurized gas from the cartridge 18 to the adapter-receiver opening, there is provided within block 66 a small diameter axial bore or passage 96 which extends rearwardly from receiver opening rear face 76. A vertical bore 98 of similar diameter intersects axial bore 96, the bore 98 being aligned with opening 64 within tube 16, vertical passage 52 within valve block 40, and mounting plate opening 99. At the rear end of axial bore 96, there is provided a vertical bore 100 forming an exhaust vent which opens up onto the upper surface 102 of the adapter block. A transverse opening 104 is formed within block 66 from wall 70 inwardly, this bore or opening 104 receiving a rotatable control valve 106. The valve includes a shaft portion 108 carried by the bore 104, an enlarged head 110 and a small radially projecting pin 112. At the area of intersection between axial bore 96 and vertical bore 98 within block 66, the shaft surface is relieved, as at 114 to provide a variable gas flow control function. In this respect, rotation of radial pin 1 12 causes the flattened, relieved surface 114 to be selectively aligned with the axial passage 96, or at some angle thereto, as desired. With the flattened surface 114 parallel to the axis of bore 96, a portion of the pressurized gas from the CO cartridge passes through the right-hand side of bore 96 into the receiver opening, while another portion of the gas passes through the exhaust vent passage 100. However, when the pin is rotated counterclockwise, as shown in FIG. 2, such that the flattened surface 114 is inclined or at right-angles to the axis of the passage 96, the vent passage 100 is completely shut off and the pressurized gas passes only through the right-hand axial passage 96 and into the receiver opening.

FIG, 4 shows a magazine 116 of preferred rectangular configuration in cross-section, and dimensioned so that it will slide within receiver opening 68 in a lateral direction, as indicated by the arrow of FIG. 2. The magazine, in the embodiment shown, employs three transversely spaced immobilizer dart or syringe type projectile receiving chambers from left to right indicated at 120, 122 and 124. The magazine which may also be formed of metal is bored longitudinally to form these chambers. The diameter of the chambers is generally the same as the bore 82 of the barrel and when axially aligned, allows a selected projectile (not shown) to pass under fluid pressure from the chamber and escape through the barrel without obstruction. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the magazine 116 is positioned such that chamber 124 is in axial alignment with the adapter barrel 80. It is noted that the axial bore 96 of the adapter block 66 is also centrally aligned with both the selected receiving magazine chamber 124 and the bore of the barrel.

The cartridge is maintained in position by the simple expedient of a ball detent mechanism. In this respect, the forward face 118 of the magazine is provided with a plurality of ball detent receiving recesses indicated from left to right as 126, 128, and 132. Within the forward end of the block 66, there is provided a pair of transversely spaced, axial bores 134 and 136 which act to receive ball detent members 138 and 140, respectively. The ball detents are biased outwardly from the block 66 by coil springs 142 having one end abutting set screws 144. The ball detents 138 and 140 are laterally spaced to the same extent as the distance between any two of the ball detent receiving recesses 126, 128, 130 and 132. Thus, it is a simple matter to insert the magazine 116 into the receiver opening 68 until the ball detent members are engaged, respectively, within any two pairs of recesses so as to axially locate a given projectile chamber of the magazine with the adapter barrel 82. If the projectiles, in dart or syringe form, have the same dosage of immobilizing drug, it does not matter which chamber 120, 122, or 124 is aligned with the barrel and thus in position for firing. Under some circumstances, the magazine 116 would be loaded with immobilizer projectiles carrying different dosages, which would be known to the person firing the weapon, whereupon depending upon the target, a particular chamber would be selected so as to fire the projectile with the required dosage. The magazine with its ball detent mechanism allows insertion of the magazine from either side and manual selection of the desired projectile. The ball detent mechanism carries appropriate means to prevent the ball detents from falling into the receiver opening in the absence of an inserted magazine.

After removal of the conventional breech bolt and barrel mechanism of the conventional compressed gas rifle, such as the Crossman Arm Company rifle illustrated in the drawings, the attachment of the adapter of the instant invention to the rifle body is achieved through the means of screws 46 and 96. The weapon is then ready for use in the field. Of course, it is assumed that one or more CO cartridges, such as cartridge 18 has been loaded in the weapon. In operation, the operator loads the receiver opening 68 with the magazine 116, carrying one or more syringe or dart type projectiles (not shown): The magazine is moved transversely of the adapter block 66 until the ball detents move into appropriate recesses to maintain axial alignment between one of the projectile carrying chambers and the barrel 80. After aiming the rifle, the operator merely pulls the trigger 26, releasing sear 54 and allowing the projection of the hammer assembly 24 to impinge upon the rod 50. This momentarily unseats the valve 30 from valve seat 32, allowing compressed gas, in this case carbon dioxide, to pass freely into axial passage 34, and enter vertical passages 52 and 98, whereupon with the control valve 106 positioned as shown, all of the gas passes into the axial passage 96 carried by the adapter block. This gas impinges upon the rear of the projectile (not shown) within chamber 124, for instance, propelling a projectile rapidly through the open end of barrel 80. A slight rotation of the gas flow control valve 106 allows some of the pressurized gas to be vented through vertical vent passage 100, thereby delivering somewhat less gas pressure against the projectile, thereby correlating the rate volume of gas applied to the particular projectile fired. After firing, the operator merely has to move the magazine 116 transversely of the adapter block 66 to cause alignment of the barrel with one of the other magazine chambers still carrying an unfired projectile, and at the same time manually cocking the hammer assembly by moving it rearwardly against the bias of the compression springs whereupon trigger sear 54 moves back into sear notch 56. Upon return of the hammer assembly, the poppet valve assembly moves to closed position under the bias of coil spring 28 and the adapter of the present invention is ready for firing a second time.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in the form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Iclaim:

I claim:

1. An adapter assembly for supporting a plurality of syringe or dart type projectiles for selective firing by a conventional gas powered gun, including a source of compressed gas and trigger operated valve means for selectively delivering pres surized gas to said adapter assembly, said adapter assembly comprising: a block, including a receiver opening, a barrel carried by said block and having a bore opening into said receiver opening, means at the opposite end of said receiver opening for fluid coupling said receiver opening and said trigger operated valve means, a magazine insertably received within said receiver opening,- and including a plurality of projectile receiving chambers adapted for axial alignment with said block, said receiver opening and said barrel being rectangular in cross-section and having means for selectively locking said magazine in projectile receiver and barrel alignment position, said means for fluid coupling said receiver opening and said trigger operated valve means including a first axial fluid passage carried by said block and terminating at said receiver opening opposite that of said barrel, a second fluid passage intersecting said first fluid passage at right angles thereto rearwardly of said receiver opening and adapted to cooperate with said trigger operated valve, vent means extending outwardly second passage and extending therethrough, a rotatable valve shaft positioned within said transverse bore and having a surface recess formed therein, whereby; rotation of said valve shaft acts selectively to fluid connect said second passage with said first passage, said second passage to said vent means or to variably restrict flow through said first passage.

2. The adapter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises a plurality of semi-spherical recesses carried by said magazine on one block contacting face thereof and on each projectile receiving chamber, and spring-biased, ball detent means carried by said block at respective locations on opposite sides of said barrel, whereby; said barrel, and each projectile receiving chamber may be accurately aligned and frictionally restrained to ensure movement of said syringe or dart type projectile from said projectile receiving chamber of said magazine and through said barrel during firing of said gas powered gun. 

